The academy grounds buzzed with a quiet intensity. After the chaos of the second round, the remaining participants were left licking their wounds, reinforcing their strategies, and bracing for whatever came next.
The third round was looming, and no one intended to be caught unprepared.
The Competitors Rebuild
Kalem sat inside the forge, meticulously checking his gear. His gauntlets hummed faintly as he adjusted the rune engravings, making minute modifications based on the insights he had gained from the last round.
Lyra sat on the other side, was with nobles, navigating it with slow, deliberate moves. Her expression was distant—calculating.
Across the academy, Jhaeros was out in the training grounds, running Velka through combat drills. After his chase through the forest and battles against noble challengers, he needed to refine his approach. Speed had always been his greatest asset, but he would have to be smarter this time.
Nara, still sore from her fight with Gorran, had chosen an even more brutal training method. She stood in a lava-scorched field, repeatedly punching a dense boulder, each strike sending sparks flying as molten cracks spread through the stone. The few observers watching her kept their distance.
Their time for reflection was over. Now, it was about survival.
The Factions Make Their Moves
Meanwhile, in the noble stands, evaluations were being made.
The various factions in the academy—some noble, some mercenary, some even from the kingdom's military—had begun their calculations for the next round.
House Vareth, known for its control over mercenary guilds, saw potential in Nara's raw combat ability.The Academy's Arcane Council had its eyes on Kalem, though their views were mixed—some saw him as a revolutionary, others as a liability. The Royal Guard representatives were intrigued by Jhaeros' tactical mind and beast mastery, considering him for special operations.
Then there were the personal rivalries.
House Ferros, who had already clashed with Jhaeros before, was planning retaliation for his defiance in the previous round. Certain nobles wanted revenge against Nara for her destruction in the volcanic region. And, of course, Kalem had earned more enemies than allies after his latest stunt.
In the dim-lit chambers of the academy's upper halls, these factions plotted and schemed, deciding who would be worth supporting—and who needed to be eliminated.
Back at the forge, Kalem finished the last adjustments to his armor.
"I have a feeling," he muttered, tightening the straps of his reinforced gloves, "that the next round is going to be... personal."
Jhaeros entered, his expression serious. "We're being watched. More than before."
Nara strolled in, cracking her knuckles. "Good. That means they're scared."
Lyra wasn't here, but Kalem knew she was somewhere with the noble , no doubt navigating the political web forming around them. She had to balance loyalty to her father while keeping an eye on those who sought to undermine their group.
Kalem sighed. "Well, at least we're all dealing with headaches."
The three exchanged glances. The next round wasn't just another competition—it was a reckoning.
And none of them planned to be caught off guard.